This Blog is created to stress the importance of Peace as an environmental directive. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman
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Saturday, June 28, 2014

(FIFA.com) Friday 20 June 2014The latest edition (click here)of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking shows some movement in almost every confederation following qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ and for continental championships.

The top three of USA, Germany and Japan are unchanged and there has been only one alteration in the top ten, with Australia rising to ninth at the expense of Korea DPR (11th, down 2). Close on their heels are China PR (13th, up 3), who have reached their best position since 2011, while Denmark (15th, down 2) are still in freefall, having sunk to their lowest position since the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking was introduced...

She is accused of assaulting her sister and 17-year-old nephew at her sister's home in suburban Seattle early Saturday, June 21. Her lawyer claims the goalkeeper was a victim in the altercation.

"I understand that, as a public figure, I am held to a higher standard of conduct," Solo said. "I take seriously my responsibilities as a role model and sincerely apologize to everyone I have disappointed."

Well, lookey thar. A Russian masquerading as a Ukrainian asking Ukraine to kill more Russiansat the east Ukraine border. Amazing. Do the Russians at the east Ukraine border realize they are being double crossed by Russia?Amember of a radical youth group demonstrates in front of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's office in Kiev, Ukraine. The demonstrators were demanding an end to the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine.Staff and wire reportsUSA TODAY12:57 p.m. EDT June 28, 2014...In televised (click here)remarks Saturday, Sergey Lavro said the U.S. is encouraging Ukraine to challenge Russia. Lavro's comments came a day after the European Union decided against immediately imposing new sanctions on Russian for destabilizing eastern Ukraine....It isn't at all Ukraine that is confrontational. It's unfortunate Russia is so scared of their neighbor, but, Ukraine has a right and responsibility to defend their borders. I haven't noticed any aggression against Russia. The aggression is all on the Russian side of the border.I thought Russia was ready to sign economic agreements with Ukraine. Heck, if they can't get their goods across the border what good is any agreement?

It looks as though the advisers helped. And there are weapons and not bombs strapped to their chests. Now, it is beginning to look like a sustainable governance. I congratulate all leaders involved to bring about a resolve to defend their people. They could use some body armor, too. They are going to need mechanics as well to repair their armored vehicles or otherwise, then they take back their land. They have to be able to repair their assets which includes vehicles.The soldiers may indeed want to 'mask' their faces to protect themselves and families from recognition and retribution. Given this region of the world it isn't at all a bad idea to conceal their identity. They aren't competing for Iraqi's Top Model. It is dusty, too. Any face mask will protect their lungs, too.Any type of mask doesn't come with USA issue uniforms. Maybe we have learned something from our friends that not only conceal identities, but, protect lungs and otherwise. There may be many reasons we don't yet understand as to why the armies trained by USA advisers aren't 'at the ready' as they should be. Obviously when holy men send out the directive to defend it is heeded. That sort blessing needs to be respected and made part of any defensive forces routine. The USA is not a majority Muslim country. We are not necessarily viewed as the most friendly nation to Muslims globally. There may be a real 'culture' barrier to success for these forces. I strongly suggest those culture barriers be explored and respected and therefore respect the man in the uniform for who he is to his community and family. I think the USA has a long way to go to understand and appreciate these people. Muslims are not Osama bin Laden and Osama bin Laden was never a Muslim. He was, however, an extremist that perverted religious to use for his own purposes. These people are great people with great nations and I never doubted it for one second. We need to understand and appreciate them, it isn't necessary from them to appreciate us.We are in their land. It is called respect.June 28, 2014

Iraq's army (click here) has routed Sunni militants in a major offensive on the northern city of Tikrit, state media say.

State television said the governor's HQ had been recaptured and 60 fighters from the Isis militant group killed.

A spokesman for the rebels confirmed heavy fighting but implied the attack had failed, saying they were pursuing what was left of the army offensive.

The rebels control large swathes of the north and west after lightning raids that captured the second city, Mosul.

'Flee or be killed'

On Saturday, thousands of Iraqi troops backed by tanks and air power attacked Tikrit from four directions, state TV said.

It said there had been complete success in clearing Isis from the city, with some militant commanders among the 60 killed. It said the other insurgents there had fled....